Aerating device



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M, MN 7 all Y IIIIIIIHIIIH United States Patent 2,761,662 AERA'I'INGDEVICE Joseph J. Goodrie, Chicago, 111., assignor to WrightwayEngineering Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationMay 5, 1954, Serial No. 427,7 07 12 Claims. (Cl. 26176) This inventionrelates to improvements in aerating devices of the type adapted to beconnected to water faucets and the like.

Aerating devices for mixing water and air are now widely known and usedon faucets and other water outlets. Such devices are highly useful andadvantageous since in their preferred form they produce a soft bubblycoherent stream which is non-splashing and which contains large amountsof entrained air. Various structures have been proposed for suchdevices, e. g. as shown in my prior Patents 2,510,395 and 2,510,396wherein the device has a cylindrical mixing chamber provided withlateral air ports, an apertured disk for forming jets of water withinthe chamber, a break-up plug against which the jets impinge, and meansat the outlet of the chamber for coalescing the water and entrained air.

I have found that in order to meet sanitary and health regulations inmany localities it is essential that the aerating device be as short aspossible so that there is no excessive lengthening of the faucet orother outlet when the aerator is attached thereon. For example, when anaerator of the foregoing type is attached to the faucet of a wash basinor sink, it is sometimes contended that there is a danger of backsiphoning of waste water if theaxial length of the aerator casing is toogreat and the aerator outlet projects downwardly into the waste water. Ihave also found that much difficulty is encountered in the periodiccleaning of aerating devices which require disassembly and reassembly bymechanically inexperienced persons. Particularly in reassemblythecomponent parts sometimes are placed in improper position or in cockedposition so as to result in misoperation of the device.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea novel and improved aerator characterized by an extremely short axiallength and compactness of structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel aerator whichwhen installed on a sink faucet or the like will comply with localplumbing regulations and will not be subject to possible back siphoning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and simplifiedaerator construction which is economical to manufacture and easy toassemble.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel andsimplified aerator construction which can easily be taken apart andcleaned and the parts reassembled to proper position by mechanicallyinexperienced persons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an aerator comprising one specificembodiment of the invention and showing the aerator attached to a faucetoutlet;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 5 is a partially exploded view of the device showing the manner ofassembly of the component parts.

Referring to the drawing, the aerator has an external Patented Sept. 4,1956 ice cylindrical casing or sleeve 16 which is of relatively shortaxial length and which has internal screw threads 11 at its inlet endfor attachment of the device to the threaded outlet of a faucet shownfragmentarily at 12. The wall of the casing 10 is formed with aplurality of lateral slots or openings 13 which serve as air inlet portsfor admitting air to an air and water mixing chamber 14 within theinterior of the casing 10. In the present instance three such slots 16are provided but any desired number of ports may be used. I

The wall thickness of the casing 10 above the air inlet slots 13 isslightly less than the wall thickness below the slots 13 (see Fig. 2) soas to provide a narrow radial shoulder 16 immediately above the slots.In other words, the threaded inlet end ofthe casing 10 above the slots13 has a counterbore of greater diameter than the main body portiondefining the chamber 14. An annular supporting ring or collar 17 ofrelatively short axial length has an outwardly flared upper flangeportion 18, which seats against the shoulder 16, and a depending skirtportion 19 in concentric inwardly spaced relation from the casing 10 andadjacent the slots 13. As will hereinafter appear, the depth of theskirt 19 is suificient to overlie or cover the air inlet ports 13 andthereby serve as a shield to prevent water from splashing out throughand clogging the slots. The flared upper end of the collar 17 has atight press fit within the larger diameter counterbore portion of thecasing 16 so as to constitute a rigid and substantially permanentassembly therewith.

Detachably supported on the upper flanged end 18 of the ring 17 is adisk 21 having a plurality of apertures or openings 22 which in thiscase are arranged in circular fashion (Fig. 4). As hereinafterdescribed, the disk 21 has a slightly loose fit within the upper part ofthe casing 16. When the aerator is mounted on the end of a faucet, as inFigs. 1 and 2, a gasket 23 of rubber or the like is interposed betweenthe disk 21 and the open end of the faucet 12 so as to provide a watertight seal with the result that water under pressure from the faucet 12is forced through the apertures 22 to form a multiplicity ofsubstantially independent or discrete jets which are surrounded by air.A depending break-up or mixing plug 24 is suspended centrally from thedisk 21 and is so shaped that the plurality of fine jets from theopenings 22, which entrain air in passing from the disk to the plug,impinge upon the plug and are broken up and mixed with the entrained airand surrounding air which enters the chamber 14 through the slots 13.The overall shape of the plug 24, which is more or less like that of amushroom as seen in Figs. 2 and 5, has been found to give highlyeffective performance. Thus, the plug 24 has a restricted neck portion25 immediately below the apertured disk 21 and then an abrupt radiallyextending enlargement or button portion 26 which provides the primarywater jet break-up function of the device. The enlargement 26 has asmoothly curved shoulder or downwardly rounded corner portion 26adisposed directly be neath the apertures 22 so that the water jets mayimpinge thereon and be diverted in many different directions. Thisenlarged upper portion 26 of the break-up plug 24 may be said to have agenerally toroidal or oblate spheroidal shape; A cylindrical stem ortail portion 27 of reduced diameter depends integrally from the upperenlarged portion 26 of the break-up plug 24 and terminates a slightdistance above the open lower end or outlet of the casing 10.

The lower end of the casing 16 is formed with an inwardly extendingflange or shoulder 28 which provides a restricted discharge outlet forthe aerated stream. A retaining ringor collar 29, generally similar tothe ring 17, is disposed within the casing 10 and has an upperflanged oroutwardly flared end 31 affording a tight press.

fit with the wall of the casing 10. The ring 29 also has a dependingskirt portion 32 which engages the upper side of a screen 33 or otherlike foraminous element supported on the shoulder 28, the skirt 32having substantially the same inner diameter as the restricted dischargeoutlet provided by the shoulder 28. It will be seen that the stemportion 27 of the break-up plug 24 extends into and is concentricahlysurrounded at its lower end by the ring 29, and the axially alignedskirt 32 and shoulder 28 form an elongated restricted discharge outletfrom the aerator. The rigid fit of the ring 29 in the casing holds thescreen 33 in position on the shoulder 28.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in assembling thedevice the screen 33, the retainer ring 29 and the supporting ring 17are rigidly and permanently installed in the casing 10 and constitute aunit for the operable life of the aerator. The disk 21 and attached plug24 also constitute a separate unit, as seen in Fi which can readily beremoved from the other unit comprising the elements 10, 17, 29, and 33so that cleaning of the device can be accomplished quickly and in anexceptionally easy manner. The diameter of the disk 21 is slightly lessthan that of the upper portion of the casing 10 with the result that inreassembly the unitary disk and plug may merely be dropped into placewithout any possibility of cocking or jamming in misaligned position.

In assembling the elements of the device, the rings 17 and 29, and thescreen 33 are installed in the casing 10 to provide a unit sub-assembly.In a separate operation, the plug 24 is permanently secured to the disk21 by inserting an upper reduced end of the plug through an aperture inthe disk and upsetting or deforming the projecting end, as at 34 (Fig.2), in substantially the same manner as in a riveting operation. disk 21and plug 24 thereby constitute a second sub-assembly. To complete theassembly operation, it is a simple matter for the worker, or user aftercleaning, to drop the disk and plug sub-assembly into the open upper endof the casing unit so that the disk 21 is received on the upper flaredend 18 of the ring 17. Because of the slight clearance between the disk21 and the casing 10 and because of the fact that the weight of the plug24 is concentrated below the disk 21, the disk-plug unit can be droppedreadily into proper aligned position in the casing 10 without anyspecial care or precision. In other words, the weight distribution inthe disk-plug sub-assembly is such that when the unit is dropped fromany appreciable distance above the casing unit 10 it automaticallystraightens itself during its fall so that the plug 24 dependssubstantially vertically from the disk 21 and falls accurately intoplace in the casing unit. Obviously, this characteristic greatlysimplifies and speeds up the assembly operation for continuous quantityproduction of the device and insures that the mechanically inexperiencedhousewife may reassemble the device properly after cleaning.

In operation, water under pressure enters the upper or inlet end of thecasing 10 and is forced through the small apertures 22 in the disk 21thereby creating a multiplicity of fine separate jets of water below thedisk 21. Because of their discrete or relatively independent nature,these jets are entirely surrounded by air which freely enters the innerspace 14 of the casing 10, the outside air passing through the slots 13and downwardly under the lower end of the skirt 19 and thence upwardlyinto the substantially annular space between the skirt 19 and the upperenlarged portion 26 of the plug 24. As the Water jets pass downwardlythrough this space While surrounded by air, the air becomes entrained inthe jets and the latter then impinge with considerable force against thecurved shoulder portion 26a of the plug.

This violent impingement of the water jets against the curved surfacecauses considerable splashing and breakup of the jets in all directionsthereby further intimately mixing the waterand the air. Obviously, someof the water will be thrown back against the underside of the Theinterconnected disk 21 and some will also be thrown outwardly againstthe skirt 19. The splashing water may be in the form of sprays orseparate droplets depending upon the degree of break-up. Furthermore,some of the water will also adhere to the plug as a thin film and passdownwardly along the surface of the depending stern portion 27. Duringthis break-up and mixing action and splashing of water in the zonebetween the plug 24, the disk 21, and the ring 17, it will be understoodthat the depending skirt portion 19 of the ring effectively shields theair ports or slots 13 so as to prevent water from splashing out throughor blocking the slots.

An important feature of the construction is the fact that the annularopening, designated at 36 in Fig. 2, between the lower end of the skirt19 and the enlarged plug portion 26 has a greater area then the combinedarea of the openings 22 in the disk 21. By this relationship, there isno tendency for the incoming water to collect in and fill up the spacedefined between the disk 21, the ring 17, and the plug 24. Consequently,proper impingement and break-up of the individual water jets andentrainment of air therein are realized because of the absence ofrestrictions to fluid flow downstream from the openings 22. Also,outside air may freely pass from the slots 13 downwardly and thenceupwardly around the skirt 19 to replenish the air which becomesentrained and mixed with the water during break-up of the water jets.

The mixture of commingled air and water passes downward-1y below thering 17 at considerable velocity, drawing more air into the casing 10 asit does so, and ultimately strikes or impinges upon the side walls ofthe easing and upon the retaining ring 29 and particularly the curvedshoulder or flange portion 31 thereof. This results in a further degreeof mixing and break-up of the air and water mixture. The presence of thedepending stem 27 provides a further rebound and impingement surface forthe splashing water and entrained air and the stem 27 also fills aportion of the space within the casing 10 so that a proper outlet flowvelocity is maintained. The slightly restricted outlet from the unit, asdefined by the substantially aligned ring 29 and shoulder 28, tends tocoalesce the air and entrained water into a coherent stream as it issuesfrom the outlet end of the device. The screen 33, although notabsolutely essential to proper operation of the device, is desirable foroptimum elfectiveness in that it tends to give a softer outlet streamand assists in splash prevention.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that my invention, while adoptingthe basic principles of aerator devices heretofore known, provides ahighly simplified and compact construction which is desirable forreasons of economy, ease of cleaning, and compliance with local healthand sanitary regulations.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularstructural embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that variousmodifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention is defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In an aerating device, a pair of detachable subassembly units; one ofsaid units comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet at oppositeends thereof and lateral air inlet ports in the wall thereof, saidcasing having a threaded portion at the inlet end thereof for connectionto a fluid conduit, a screen supported in said casing adjacent theoutlet end thereof, and a pair of annular elements frictionally fittedin axially spaced relation in said casing, one of said elements engagingsaid screen for holding the screen in place in the casing and the otherof said elements providing an annular shield spaced inwardly from saidair inlet ports for shielding the latter said one element also having aportion thereof in substantial axial alignment with the peripheral edgeof said outlet for defining with the latter a restricted dischargepassage from the device; and the other of said sub-assembly unitscomprising an apertured disk and a break-up and mixing body.

rigidly afl'ixed thereto, said disk being removably supported on saidother element with said body depending therefrom and extending belowsaid shield, and said disk being adapted to be clamped against saidother element for retaining said units in assembled relation when thethreaded portion of said casing is connected to a fluid conduit.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the minimumannular area between said body and said shield is greater than the totalarea of the apertures in said disk whereby to prevent liquid fromfilling the space below said disk and between said body and said shield.

3. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that said bodyterminates at its lower end closely adjacent said screen.

4. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that said body isprovided with a short neck portion of restricted diameter immediatelybelow said disk and a radially projecting enlargement extending abruptlyfrom said neck portion in spaced relation below said disk forimpingement thereon of jets of water from said disk.

5. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof, said casing also having lateral air inletports in the wall thereof, an apertured disk extending transverselyacross the casing above said ports, a break-up and mixing body rigidlyaffixed to said disk and depending therefrom, an annular skirtinterposed between said body and said ports for shielding the latter, aninwardly extending radial shoulder portion at the outlet end of saidcasing, a screen supported on said shoulder portion adjacent saidoutlet, and an annular retaining element rigidly mounted within saidcasing and engaging said screen for holding the same in assembledposition against said shoulder portion, said annular element having anupright skirt portion spaced radially inwardly from the casing and insubstantial axial alignment with the inner periphery of said shoulderportion for defining with the latter a restricted fluid outlet from thedevice.

6. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof, said casing also having lateral air inletports in the wall thereof, an apertured disk extending transverselyacross the casing above said ports, a break-up and mixing body rigidlyaflixed to said disk and depending therefrom, an annular skirtinterposed between said body and said ports for shielding the latter, aninwardly extending radial shoulder portion at the outlet end of saidcasing, a screen supported on said shoulder portion adjacent saidoutlet, and an annular retaining collar of relatively short axial lengthrigidly disposed in said casing with its lower axial end engaging saidscreen for clamping the latter against said shoulder portion, the upperaxial end of said collar being flared radially outwardly into tightfrictional engagement with the interior of said casing for rigidlyholding the collar in the casing and for providing a fluid break-up anddiverting surface adapted for the impingement of water thereon.

7. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and outlet atopposite ends thereof, said casing also having lateral air inlet portsin the wall thereof, an annular supporting element rigidly mounted insaid casing above said ports and having a depending skirt portion spacedinwardly from and extending below said ports, an inwardly extendingflange at the outlet end of said casing, a screen supported on saidflange adjacent said outlet, an annular retaining element rigidly fittedin said casing and engaging said screen for holding the latter inposition on said flange and forming a shoulder for breaking up andmixing air and water, and a removable internal unit comprising anapertured disk detachably seated on the upper end portion of saidannular supporting element above said ports and a break-up 6 and mixingbody rigidly aflixed to said disk and having a portion thereof extendingdownwardly through said casing and into said annular retaining elementand terminating closely adjacent said screen.

8. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and outlet atopposite ends thereof, said casing also having lateral air inlet portsin the wall thereof, a pair of upper and lower collars rigidly mountedin said casing in axially spaced relationship therein, said upper collarhaving its upper axial end flared outwardly into tight frictionalengagement with the interior of the casing and extending downwardlywithin the casing closely adjacent but spaced inwardly from said ports,a screen fitted in the lower end of said casing adjacent the outlettherefrom, said lower collar having its lower axial end engaging saidscreen for retaining the same in position in the casing and being flaredoutwardly at its upper axial end into tight frictional engagement withthe interior of the casing, and a removable internal unit including anapertured disk detachably supported on the flared upper end of saidupper collar and a break-up and mixing body rigidly suspended from saiddisk and extending at its lower end into said lower collar and terminalclosely adjacent said screen.

9. The device of claim 5 further characterized in that the minimumannular area between said body and said shield is greater than the totalarea of the apertures in said disk whereby to prevent liquid fromfilling the space below said disk and between said body and said shield.

10. The device of claim 5 further characterized in that said bodyterminates at its lower end closely adjacent said screen.

ll. The device of claim 5 further characterized in that said body isprovided with a short neck portion of restricted diameter immediatelybelow said disk and a radially projecting enlargement extending abruptlyfrom said neck portion in spaced relation below said disk forimpingement thereon of jets of water from said disk.

12. In an aerating device, a pair of detachable subassembly units; oneof said units comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet atopposite ends thereof and lateral air inlet ports in the wall thereof,said casing also having a threaded portion at the inlet end thereof forconnection to a fluid conduit and an inwardly extending shoulderdisposed above said air inlet ports, a screen supported in said casingadjacent the outlet end thereof, and a pair of annular elementsfrictionally fitted in axially spaced relation in said casing, one ofsaid elements engaging said screen for holding the screen in place inthe casing and the other of said elements comprising a collar ofrelatively short axial length disposed in said casing in inwardly spacedrelation from said air inlet ports for shielding the latter and havingits upper axial end flared radially outwardly into tight frictionalengagement with the interior of the casing and seated rigidly on saidshoulder; and the other of said sub-assembly units comprising anapertured disk and a break-up and mixing body rigidly afiixed thereto,said disk being removably supported on the outwardly flared upper end ofsaid collar with said body depending from said disk and extending belowsaid shield, and said disk being adapted to be clamped against saidcollar for retaining said units in assembled relation when the threadedportion of said casing is connected to a fluid conduit.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,510,395 Goodrie a- June 6, 1950 2,510,396 Goodrie June 6, 19502,564,060 Gettins Aug. 14, 1951 2,565,554 Goodrie Aug. 28, 19512,657,024 Reinecke Oct. 27, 1953 2,707,624 Shames et a1 May 3, 19552,717,614 Palivos Sept. 13, 1955

